I see black hair, blue eyes and a freckled face. My own face staring back at me, although different and strange.

My reflection feels off somehow, like the person there isnt really myself, just a picture of someone else. Although, i suppose that’s true, considering it’s not actually me, only a reflection of how I appear.

I imagine my true appearance as a fading ball of light, drifting through my body, never to be seen by another.

My own reflection stares back like it too cannot understand that we are the same. It stares into my eyes like I stare into its. I found that we do share similarities, in manner and in thought. Perhaps our appearances aren’t so different after all.

The bathroom soon feels too bright. The light fixture flickers occasionally, making my eyes begin to water. Staring at the mirror like this makes me feel a little crazy, especially in the dead of night when not even my siblings are awake. The light does nothing to help this feeling.

I decide it’s time to stop fixating on strange notions and begin brushing my teeth. But even then, my eyes stare into my reflection, or rather, the reflection.

We can’t seem to break eye contact. It’s so strange how I feel connected to the reflection but also hate the thought of it being like myself. Why does it feel so familiar yet so different? Why is it me but not me?

I’m forced to lose the staring contest to rinse my mouth. Then I avoid fhe mirror’s reflection in honor of my sanity. If I stare for too long I fear I might stare forever.

I dry my hands and face and quickly leave the bathroom, turning off the light as I go. Before I leave the room completely, I take one last glance at the reflection.

For a moment I realize that it is myself in that mirror, stuck in this never ending cycle of appearing then disappearing day after day in others’ lives. I see the truth behind it all.

Then I turn away and go back to my bedroom to sleep, forgetting this night ever existed.